FIFA President Gianni Infantino Honors Donald Trump with Inaugural FIFA Peace Prize

FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarded Donald Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize at the 2026 World Cup draw held in December.

World Cup 2026 ticket holders can now access priority visa appointments for travel to the United States. However, there remains uncertainty regarding whether fans from all qualified nations will be able to enter the country.

The FIFA Prioritized Appointment Scheduling System, known as FIFA Pass, was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in November and became operational on Tuesday. This initiative was introduced to assist citizens from certain countries whose teams have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, as they may not receive visa appointments in time for the tournament.

Nevertheless, the U.S. State Department has emphasized that obtaining a FIFA Pass appointment does not guarantee visa approval. All ticket holders are required to undergo comprehensive security screening and vetting processes.

Most citizens from countries included in the U.S. visa waiver program, which encompasses much of Europe—including the UK—as well as Japan, Australia, and others, can typically travel visa-free for up to 90 days and do not need to utilize the FIFA Pass. Instead, travelers from these nations must apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).

A senior official from the State Department stated that the new FIFA Pass system will reduce wait times, with applicants in over 80% of countries now able to schedule a visa appointment in less than 60 days. The official added, “At the visa appointment, the applicant must demonstrate eligibility for the visa and a commitment to comply with our laws and exit the country after the tournament. America’s safety and border security will always take precedence.”

Football fans from countries impacted by the U.S. suspension of immigrant visa processing will still have the opportunity to apply for travel to the country for this year’s World Cup. The U.S. announced last Wednesday that it would pause processing immigrant visas from 75 countries, 15 of which have qualified for the World Cup, including Brazil, a five-time champion.

Additionally, seven nations on this list are still in contention for qualification for the tournament, set to take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

The State Department confirmed on Tuesday that this pause applies solely to the issuance of immigrant visas and does not affect non-immigrant visas for tourists, athletes, their families, and media professionals.

Qualified countries on the list of 75 include Algeria, Brazil, Cape Verde, Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Uruguay, and Uzbekistan. Nations still vying for qualification include Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, DR Congo, Iraq, Jamaica, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.

The Trump administration’s indefinite pause on processing immigrant visa applications from these 75 countries will take effect on January 21. This follows an expansion of a travel ban initiated on January 1, restricting nationals from the aforementioned countries from entering the U.S.

Haiti and Iran, both of which have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, are included on the list of countries facing full restrictions. Ivory Coast and Senegal, also among the qualified nations, face partial restrictions.

The State Department clarified that a FIFA Pass appointment does not permit those who are otherwise ineligible to obtain a visa, suggesting that fans from these four countries may face challenges in traveling to the U.S. for the tournament.

Guidance from the State Department noted exceptions for any athlete or team member, including coaches, essential support staff, and immediate relatives, regarding the travel ban for the World Cup. However, it specified that this exception does not extend to fans or spectators. They may still submit visa applications, but could be deemed ineligible for visa issuance or entry into the United States.

The U.S. is set to host 78 of the 104 total matches in the World Cup across 11 cities, culminating in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.